Fox / Archbold / Coull Quartet New Music For A New Oboe 2 CD

Christopher Redgate is undoubtedly one of the world's finest exponents of the most advanced avant-garde music for the oboe. This sequel to 'New Music for a New Oboe' again features two new instruments developed by Redgate in order to explore more advanced techniques - the Howarth-Redgate Oboe and the Lupophon (a bass oboe), in works by five English composers. Utilising multiphonics and other techniques, Redgate produces a unique sound world, whether with piano (Hayden's 'surface/tension', string quartet (The Colours of Dark Light) electronic wizardry (Unlocking the Grid), or overdubbing (Clepsydra). In most cases here especially the pieces by Hayden, Archbold and Ker, the composers worked in collaboration with Redgate to design works that were playable on the new instruments, though impossible on traditional oboes. The areas explored here include the extreme high range, various microtonal divisions and multiphonics - a repertoire of sounds and techniques for which the new instrument was designed with the intention, not only of meeting today's demands, but also of building further potential into the instrument.